OPINIONS SOUGHT - Do I Upgrade to 64 bit?

[newtusmaximus]

Terminal : Free readout
inuxlite@linuxlite-HP-Compaq-dc7700p-Ultra-slim-Desktop:~$
linuxlite@linuxlite-HP-Compaq-dc7700p-Ultra-slim-Desktop:~$ free
            total      used      free    shared    buffers    cached
Mem:      3094220    1245376    1848844      48432      96776    845920
-/+ buffers/cache:    302680    2791540
Swap:      3135484          0    3135484
linuxlite@linuxlite-HP-Compaq-dc7700p-Ultra-slim-Desktop:~$

Running LL2.8 32bit 3 GB RAM  (3 x 1 GB)  Standard config;  LAN connected.  Intel Dual core 6300 CPU  1.86 GHz

CPU capable of 64 bit - Maximum RAM  ( Bios) 3 x 2GB.  Video card  shares existing memory

Standard office use - Not gamer.  Some video viewing.  SKYPE

QUESTION

With Ubuntu threatening 32 bit demise what are my most cost effective options?
a) changing to 64 bit , utilising existing RAM -  will I run into  low memory availability issues.
b) Bite the bullet and buy 3 x 2gb sticks RAM (Ebay)

Option b) is virtually the same cost as the residual value of the HP DC7700p 

TIA.

[rokytnji]

Hmmmm.

Code:

$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: biker Kernel: 4.8.1-antix.1-686-smp-pae i686 (32 bit gcc: 4.9.3)
           Desktop: IceWM 1.3.8 Distro: antiX-15-V_386-full Killah P 30 June 2015
Machine:   Device: laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E4310 v: 0001
           Mobo: Dell model: 0T6M8G v: A01 BIOS: Dell v: A03 date: 07/08/2010
Battery    BAT0: charge: 44.0 Wh 109.4% condition: 40.2/44.0 Wh (91%)
           model: Samsung SDI DELL RM6618A status: Full
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i5 M 520 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
           flags: (lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9575
           clock speeds: max: 2400 MHz 1: 1599 MHz 2: 1599 MHz 3: 1333 MHz 4: 1333 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: [email protected]
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ironlake Mobile x86/MMX/SSE2
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 10.3.2 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.8.1-antix.1-686-smp-pae
Network:   Card-1: Intel 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection
           driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: 6040 bus-ID: 00:19.0
           IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 driver: iwlwifi bus-ID: 02:00.0
           IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 60.0GB (43.6% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON_SV300S3 size: 60.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 7.6G used: 4.2G (59%) fs: ext3 dev: /dev/sda2
           ID-2: /home size: 48G used: 21G (46%) fs: ext3 dev: /dev/sda1
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0C mobo: N/A
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 186 Uptime: 2:22 Memory: 546.7/8021.7MB
           Init: SysVinit runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 4.9.2 Client: Shell (bash 4.3.301) inxi: 2.3.8

I run 32 bit on this I5 with 8 gig of ram. But i don't care about not being able to run google-chrome browser or other applications that dropped 32 bit support.
The advantage of 64 bit is more application availability I guess.  But it is something i do not lose sleep over.

i run 64 bit LL 3.2 on a couple of my Desktop computers in the house. But I usually just stick with 32 bit if it is available.

So I am not really advising you. just letting you know running 32 bit is not the end of the world.

[newtusmaximus]

rokytnji, Thanks.  But my point is it appears that the end of the world is nigh for 32 bit Ubuntu. ( needs confirmation).  Other linux OS derivs are already calling32 bit options a day.  So hence the question.

The PC  I am referring to is my main workhorse and I  tend to follow the "leave well alone" philosophy , but  I may not have that option the way  LL/ UBUNTU is going.  The attraction of LL is this forum - support for newbies like myself.  However it would appera the the LL Dev team's hands are tied by what UBUNTU is prepared to do in the future.

[rokytnji]

No choice = no choice.  Hence why I did not advise you.  Choice takes the matter of should I or not out of ones. hands.

[firenice03]

My plugged nickle..  ;D

Upside - you do have the option...
Downside some cost to make it most effective...
Besides application support - Chrome vs Chromium or others not supporting...

You mention the pc will accept a 64-bit version but you have 3gb ram which is right up against 32-bits max capability of ram. It sounds like you have 3 slots all full with 1gb which will need to be tossed if upgrading to 3x2gb for 6gb total.. So cost of new + throw out old for the cost of the machine...

The real upside to the OS side of 64-bit is the use of additional ram - at a high level...

So you would have to rip and remove; back up, wipe clean and reinstall LL 64-bit then set back up.. Time...

If you're ok in the current state and not wanting to upgrade ram - I would ride it out as is. If something comes along where you need to reinstall LL (freshen up or new series) then you could go the 64-bit route and ram could be added at anytime... Or perhaps an overall system upgrade by the time 32-bit is put to pasture.... 8) 8)

Only caveat.. Some systems run 32-bit better than 64-bit especially with lower ram amounts... This is where I would focus researching...


[member=494]rokytnji[/member]
If you have an 8gb system running on 32-bit..??... I would highly suggest you go to 64-bit  8)
Just to make full use of the ram.. (32-bit only uses 4gb)

I run 32 bit on this I5 with 8 gig of ram. But i don't care about not being able to run google-chrome browser or other applications that dropped 32 bit support.
The advantage of 64 bit is more application availability I guess.  But it is something i do not lose sleep over.

[rokytnji]

(32-bit only uses 4gb)

I understand completely where you are coming from. While I am a comfy linux user. I am a strange one also. I can't really explain on why I am strange.
Anyways. just posting to let you know my info line in my inxi readout will show you I am using all of my 8 gig of ram in my 32 bit install and my idle ram usage after a login is just 82MB of ram with a conky running even.

I run a another 32 bit install on  a IBM T430 that has 16 gig of ram. My install sees and uses all 16 gigs of ram in that laptop also.

I am not arguing. Just stating info.  I've always been a just " just run what ys bring" type of person. Never judgmental on what a persons druthers is.

Edit; i forgot to mention.  On my older atom netbooks . i could put tons of ram in them. They still won't accept 64 bit install isos though.
That is another reason I keep my hand in the 32 bit world.

[newtusmaximus]

rokytnji, Am I missing something here? Confused.  Are you saying that running 32 bit OS you can read >4GB Ram i.e all of it i is potentially usable??

[rokytnji]

i.e all of it i is potentially usable??

Short answer. Yep.

Code:

$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:       8214184    1110916    7103268      67996      62176     510448
-/+ buffers/cache:     538292    7675892
Swap:            0          0          0

[torreydale]

In keeping with the "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" mantra, if 32 bit is serving you well, stay with it.  As for your concern about the future, your LL 2.8 install is good until April 2019.  If you decide to upgrade to LL 3.x, that is supported until April 2021.  Why worry today over something that isn't a real issue (for you) for at least 4 years?

I don't know the situation in the UK, but 6GB in 3x2GB DDR2 RAM from eBay is about $27 USD.  That's not much of a bullet to bite.  You can get a replacement desktop with better specs for about twice that.  An example is this.  I got it from this search result.

But again, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

Update:  In general, no you cannot read over 4GB in 32-bit.  Put 2 to the power of 32 in a calculator, and you'll see why.  The result is the number of bytes of memory you can have.

[firenice03]

(32-bit only uses 4gb)

I understand completely where you are coming from. While I am a comfy linux user. I am a strange one also. I can't really explain on why I am strange.
Anyways. just posting to let you know my info line in my inxi readout will show you I am using all of my 8 gig of ram in my 32 bit install and my idle ram usage after a login is just 82MB of ram with a conky running even.

I run a another 32 bit install on  a IBM T430 that has 16 gig of ram. My install sees and uses all 16 gigs of ram in that laptop also.

I am not arguing. Just stating info.  I've always been a just " just run what ys bring" type of person. Never judgmental on what a persons druthers is.

Edit; i forgot to mention.  On my older atom netbooks . i could put tons of ram in them. They still won't accept 64 bit install isos though.
That is another reason I keep my hand in the 32 bit world.

No worries  8) I missed it "displayed" the full 8 - thought it registered 4...
You have a "catch" PAE which is enabled in the Linux Kernel and the CPU needs to support it, CAN allow a system to make use of the additional ram.. Although with some limitation i.e. virtual memory yada yada...

Some info - for curiosity:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/613199/ca...ss-8gb-ram
http://askubuntu.com/questions/32272/why...3gb-of-ram

Edit; i forgot to mention.  On my older atom netbooks . i could put tons of ram in them. They still won't accept 64 bit install isos though.

Those maybe 32-bit only?? and may have a limit to ram of ~4gb???????
The mini in my sig is 32-bit only..

[member=149]newtusmaximus[/member]

Are you saying that running 32 bit OS you can read >4GB Ram i.e all of it i is potentially usable??

Typically on an 32-bit OS the maximum memory is 4gb, anything beyond 4 will not be displayed and or utilized (with some exceptions and caveats), moving to a 64-bit OS will make use of all registered ram..


But as mentioned if it isn't broke...

Code:

If you're ok in the current state and not wanting to upgrade ram - I would ride it out as is.